I know it's cliche, but MY GOODNESS, the web is truly an extraordinary resource. These last few months have not been good driving months for me. I was pulled over for running a red light in November (the policeman wished me a Happy Thanksgiving), and then I was pulled over for speeding just a few weeks ago. Frantic to keep points off my license, I had registered for online traffic school for my fall ticket, but with the latest one, I thought I was sunk. You can't enroll in traffic school if you've already done it in the last 18 months.

I could see how some people might think that one point might not be that bad. Just a ticket, right? Yah, maybe, if you didn't have my track record. I had my first accident at 17, shortly after I got my license; I rear-ended someone snailing along in the rain as I was rushing to choir practice. Then, over the next several years, I've had five or so more fender-benders (some my fault and/or reported, some not) and a speeding ticket. Oh, and I've been pulled over on at least two other occasions but let go.

Not a pretty picture.

By the time I was with Felix, my car insurance company had kicked me to the curb, writing me a letter to let me know that they were not renewing my policy and would no longer offer me coverage. Sad, sad, sad! That was when Felix and I had THE TALK. See, the thing is, I'm actually quite a good driver...when I'm paying attention. With the two of us getting married and putting our cars under one policy, there was to be no more goofing around. No bumps. No dings. No tickets. And believe it or not, that was really the end of it; I held up my end of the deal.

I was so good until now. As I watched the CHP officer write up my speeding ticket, I called Felix from the car, sharing the horrific news with him. How could things suddenly start falling apart? After all this time, all my effort, all my carefulness...two tickets!!!

And then Ticket Assassin came to my rescue. Desperate to keep myself clean, I found myself actually starting to believe that I could fight back. Searches on the web turned up the official California vehicle policies and more importantly, a free guide to contesting a ticket by mail. Isn't the internet a wondrous thing?

This morning, I trotted to the post office to send off my "not guilty" plea by certified mail. Whether or not I win will depend on whether or not that CHP officer chooses to respond, but I'll be sure to keep you posted on how things go. It's not exactly great freedom fighter material, but I am quite proud of myself nonetheless. Anything to keep myself on the road to driving goodness!

That expression about being raised by wolves has been running through my head lately. We've been ramping up Keira's solids, and she's fallen madly in love with finger foods. She's particularly a carb fiend. I swear, even when her little tummy is huge and round, she still finds a way to gobble up bread, pasta, bagels, and rice.

The problem with these culinary adventures, however, is that Keira is no longer willing to sit quietly, opening her mouth for spoonfuls of pureed mush. No! She wants to be involved, run her own show, and be an independent eater! Our last few meals included wild wrestling matches: Keira struggled to grab the spoon out of my grasp, while I tried to keep her from smearing carrot mash in her hair. Mouth clamped shut and eyes glaring, my sweet pea flatly refused to let me feed her.

Of course, I was not about to let myself be conquered. Armed with expert books and website resources, I decided that our battles were simply a sign that Keira was ready to self-feed. Proper training and patience would help her through the crucial developmental process that would take her from learning how to use a spoon to adopting actual table manners.

Ready to begin anew, I prepared a small bowl of finger foods and cereal mush. I put Keira in her high chair, fastened on a bib, and smiled while I handed her a spoon and put the bowl on her tray. Instant disaster! Keira grabbed the bowl and started to flip it over. I leapt to the rescue just in time and then tried to hold her hand with the spoon to show her how it should be used. Breaking into a howl of protest, Keira yanked her hand away and, while I was horrified and distracted, snatched a fistful of sticky mush instead. Mess, mess, MESS! While Keira stared curiously at her hand and flexed her fingers open and closed over the squishy food, I sat back and resigned myself to letting my daughter have her way.

Since that turning point moment, things seem to have gotten a lot better. Keira is once again well-behaved during meals and enjoys almost everything I put in front of her. There's just one catch - no utensils allowed. If I even try to bring a spoon onto the scene, chaos descends in a flash. Fingers only! Self finger-feeding that she does on her own and other yummy offers from my fingertips are the only ways she'll eat now.

And as I watched her have breakfast this morning, devouring mango, tofu, and cereal off my sticky, messy fingers, I couldn't help but wonder what dangerous road we're heading down. Images of a wild toddler grabbing food with her hands and cramming meals in her mouth danced through my mind. Raised by wolves, I tell you...raised by wolves.

Uh-oh.

She's getting smart.

First of all, Keira's totally on the go nowadays. She crawls around until she can get her hands on the nearest chair, table, or toy, and then she pulls herself up nice and tall so she can cruise along, step by step. If it was just a matter of mobility, however, I wouldn't be worried. But she's got legs AND brains.

See before, I couldn't be sure she understood me, and her memory only lasted about three seconds (out of sight, out of mind). But things have changed. Keira now cheerfully pats her little chubby hands together when we say, "Clap, clap!" It's obvious she understands and happily throws me a look before going right back to ignoring me when I say, "NO." And when I pull her away from dangerous outlets and unstable toys, she cries and throws her head back in terrible protest for much longer than three seconds.

My new Miss Smarty-pants wants and expects more from me. Instead of just eating and sleeping, she wants to play, laugh, communicate, and discover new things. Suddenly, I realize that I'm actually and truly "Mommy." I look into Keira's bright little eyes and see intelligence and personality looking right back at me.

And I know I'm really in for trouble now!